Strange instructions from a 1903 cookbook?

[MotherCharlotte]

I have a reprinted copy if the 1903 cookbook, The Way To A Man's Heart. Rather than having it at a curiosity, I do actually use some of the recipes.

Yesterday I was making the recipe for basic white bread, and came across this odd instruction:
"Bake one hour in a hot oven, twelve seconds by the hand."

What does this mean? Also, one hour seems an awful long time for two loaves of bread...did old wood stoves not get as hot or something? Now I am curious about this.

[pcrowder]

It means that if you can hold your hand in the oven without taking it out for 12 seconds, then it is the right temperature. If you can't, then it is too hot.

[MotherCharlotte]

Ah, that solves it! Thank you.

[silvergramma]

i have a later version of that book

[silvergramma]

the way to a mans heart .. hard copy will have to check the date